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New children’s hospital designed to be innovative and kid friendly

The technological advancements and redesign of Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, part of Ascension Florida, were featured recently in the Pensacola News Journal.

In the story, Henry Stovall, President and CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart, describes how the design, technology and décor of the hospital are focused on meeting the needs of children and their families.

“Every aspect of the new hospital, from the furniture, to the decor, to the equipment, is designed to be both cutting edge and kid friendly,” the newspaper says.

The CT scan room has an underwater theme, with sea turtles, colorful coral reefs and beams of sunlight decorating the walls and the large X-ray device in the center of the room. A painted skylight looks like it’s capturing the afternoon sun, and in the wall graphics are hidden images of bananas, pencils and combs to engage and distract young patients.

The CT scanner, which used to take 15 minutes to take full-body X-rays, now does its work in just 45 seconds. “All in all, the entire experience should be a lot more comfortable for the kiddos, which is the whole point,” the story says.

“We wanted to make sure we were investing in technology that was specific to the care of children,” Henry says. “So all our imaging equipment is 100 percent for children, all of the software is for children. The surroundings look like something you might find in Disney World. They are intended to calm the child, to make the child have a safe experience, to give them a sense of imagination while they are going through whatever test the doctor has ordered.”

The hospital’s features include murals of dolphins and the Blue Angels, game kiosks, and a rooftop green space. Outside, the Mother Seton Children’s Garden offers a playground for children where they can relax and have fun, and there is even a small dog park.